Embraer's Legacy 500 and its shorter-haul, smaller sibling, the Legacy 450, are the latest entries in Embraer's burgeoning book of business jet offerings, which range from the entry-level Phenom 100 to the uber barge Lineage 1000.

In October, for the second month in a row, the number of business aircraft flights in the U.S. fell from the same period in 2010. The year-over-year change was minus 1.5 percent in October and minus 1.3 percent in September, according to aviation services company Argus.

A fractional share can take care of your air travel needs, but how will you get to the airport? Avantair, which features Piaggio Avanti twin-engine turboprop aircraft, is offering what could be a fun solution: For a limited time, purchase a new 50-hour fractional share or Axis Lease Program from the Clearwater, Fla.-based company and it will give you a Vespa Scooter at no additional charge.

The U. S. Block Aircraft Registration Request (Barr) program has been reinstated, at least through Sept. 30, 2012. On November 18, President Obama signed an appropriations bill containing language that reverses Barr’s August dismantling. Now, National Business Aviation Association officials are in discussions with the FAA regarding the logistics involved in resurrecting the program. The NBAA said it expects to receive more guidance from the FAA shortly “but at this point it is clear that anyone currently blocking their movements as part of the FAA’s Certified Security Program will not have a gap in their ‘blocked’ status.”

Let's face it: Some business jet interiors are about as exciting as a bowl of cold oatmeal. But in recent years, the situation has been changing, thanks partly to entre into the field of independent cabin designers who had previously occupied themselves with homes and yachts.

The idea for the Cessna Citation Excel was not new: Combine light jet economics and runway performance with a comfortable, stand-up cabin. For the Excel, Cessna stuck to its time-tested potion of evolutionary development based on simple and robust systems.
In other words, it went to the parts bin.

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““[Bill Gates] has been historically one of my best supporters…One of my favorite e-mails he ever sent me…I proposed this crazy project. And he sent back this two-line response: ‘This has got to be the craziest thing you’ve ever suggested. Please proceed.’”
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